How to turn on Xiaomi air conditioner without remote control via phone: step-by-step instructions and life hacks

Forgot the remote from the Xiaomi air conditioner in the country, and the heat outside the window is already +30 ° C? Or the batteries sat down at the most inopportune moment? Don’t panic — modern split-systems of the brand support remote control via a smartphone. In this article, we will analyze all the working ways to turn on Xiaomi air conditioner without a physical remote, from the official Mi Home app to bypass solutions for older models.

The main advantage of Xiaomi ecosystem is the deep integration of technology with mobile devices. Even if your air conditioner was released in 2018-2020, the chances of successful connection via phone remain high. We tested the methods on models Mi Air Conditioner, Mijia Smart AC and Xiaomi Smartmi — the results are summarized in the compatibility table below.

Important: If your air conditioner has never connected to Wi-Fi, you will first need to do a physical tether (at least once), a restriction that applies to most Xiaomi smart devices for security reasons.

1.Management through the official Mi Home app

The most reliable and versatile way is to use the Mi Home app (renamed Xiaomi Home in some regions), which supports all modern Xiaomi air conditioners since 2017.

Download the application from official sources:

• 📱 Android: Google Play (version 6.0+)
• 🍎 iOS: App Store (requires iOS 12.0 or later)
• 🌐 Alternative: APK- file with APKCombo (for regions where the application is blocked)

After installation:

1. Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi account (use the same as for other devices in the ecosystem).
2. Click + → Add the device in the upper right corner.
3. Select the Air Conditioner category (English version).
4. Follow the instructions on the screen – the application will automatically find the air conditioner on your local network.

Make sure the air conditioner is on the 220V network

Connect your phone to the same Wi-Fi network as your air conditioner

Update the Mi Home app to the latest version

Check that the phone is Bluetooth enabled (needed for some models)

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If the air conditioning is not:

• 🔄 Reboot the router and air conditioner (turn off the socket for 30 seconds).
• 📶 Check that your Wi-Fi is running at 2.4GHz (5GHz is not supported by most air conditioners).
• 🔧 Reset the air conditioner settings to factory (button RESET on the inner unit, hold 5-10 seconds).

2. Voice control via Alice, Google Assistant or Siri

If your Xiaomi air conditioner is already tied to your Mi Home account, you can control it through any popular assistants, which is convenient when the phone is on charge or you are busy with other things.

Setting up for Yandex Alice:

1. Open the Yandex app with Alice.
2. Go to Devices → Add the device → Xiaomi.
3. Enter the username/password from your Mi Account.
4. After synchronization, say, "Alice, turn on the air conditioner at 22 degrees."

For Google Assistant:

1. Open Google Home and click + → Set up your device → Are there devices already?
2. Choose Xiaomi from the list of brands.
3. Log in and allow access to the devices.
4. Now you can use commands like, "OK, Google, set the air conditioner temperature to 24 degrees."

A critical nuance: voice assistants can't control the air conditioner if it's disconnected from the Wi-Fi network. Even if the air conditioner is plugged in, without the Internet, commands won't be executed.

3. Alternative management applications (if Mi Home does not work)

Sometimes the official Mi Home app refuses to connect to the air conditioner due to regional restrictions or server errors, in which case third-party solutions will help:

• 📱 Smart IR Remote (Android) is a universal remote that supports Xiaomi via the phone's IR port.
• 🔄 BroadLink RM Pro is a bridge device that connects to Wi-Fi and controls the air conditioner via IR signal, compatible with Mi Home.
• 🌍 Home Assistant is an open platform for smart homes. It requires customization, but it gives you full control.

Instructions for Smart IR Remote:

1. Install the application and allow access to the camera (need to configure the IR transmitter).
2. Select Add Device → Air Conditioning → Xiaomi
3. Direct the phone’s IR port to the air conditioner and follow the instructions for testing commands.
4. Save the profile of the device for quick access.

💡

If your phone doesn’t have an IR port (like an iPhone or many Xiaomi models after 2021), use an external IR blaster that is connected via an audio connector or Bluetooth.

For Xiaomi’s 2022-2026 air conditioners, it’s best to avoid third-party IR-controlled apps — they often don’t support new data protocols, and the only reliable option is the Mi Home or voice assistants.

4. Manage via the Mi Home web interface (for advanced users)

Few people know, but Xiaomi provides a web version of the device control panel, which is useful if you only have a computer or tablet on hand without the ability to install a mobile app.

To gain access:

1. Go to home.mi.com and log in.
2. In the menu on the left, select Devices → Air conditioning.
3. Here you will see the same options as in the mobile application: temperature adjustment, mode selection, timer.

Limitations of the web version:

• ⚠️ No support for geofences (automatically activated when returning home).
• ⚠️ Some air conditioners require two-factor authentication in an account.
• ⚠️ Interface in English or Chinese (depending on the region of the account).

Official Mi Home| Voice Assistant (Alice/Google)|Smart IR Apps |Physical remote |Another way-->

5. Emergency switching on without remote control and telephone (mechanical method)

If you don't have access to the remote or phone at all and need to turn on the air conditioner immediately, you can use a hidden button on the internal unit, which works on all Xiaomi models, but has limitations:

Step-by-step:

1. Remove the front panel of the air conditioner (usually it is attached to the latches on top).
2. Find a small button that says FORCE, ON/OFF or TEST (located to the right of the filter).
3. Press and hold it for 3-5 seconds - the air conditioner will turn on in Auto mode with a temperature of 24 ° C.
4. Repeat the action to turn off.

💡

Mechanical switching on will reset all previous settings (timers, blind direction) After using this method, it is recommended to reconfigure the air conditioner through the application or remote control.

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ You can't adjust the temperature -- there will always be 24 °C.
• ❌ Operates only in Auto mode (cooling/heating is selected automatically).
• ❌ Some models (Xiaomi Smartmi Evaporative Air Cooler) don’t have this button, so you’ll have to take the unit apart deeper.

6. Set up automatic scripts in Mi Home

To avoid future management issues, set up automatic scripts in the Mi Home app. For example, the air conditioner may turn on:

• 🕒 Scheduled (every day at 18:00).
• 🌡️ If the room temperature is exceeded (data from the Xiaomi Temperature Sensor).
• 🚗 By geolocation (when you return home).
• 💡 Together with other devices (e.g., when a smart lamp is switched on).

How to create a script:

1. In Mi Home, go to Automation section → Add.
2. Select a condition (e.g. Temperature > 25°C).
3. Add the action: Turn on air conditioning → Mode: Cooling → Temperature: 22°C.
4. Save the script and activate it.

Example of a useful scenario for energy savings:

⚠️ Warning: If you set the rule "Switch off air conditioner when the window is open" (with the Xiaomi Door/Window Sensor sensor), you can save up to 30% of electricity. But note that when you fire frequently, the air conditioner compressor wears out faster.

7. Solving problems: Air conditioner not connecting to phone

If you’re outfollowing all the instructions, but Xiaomi’s air conditioner stubbornly doesn’t want to connect to your phone, check out these points:

Common user errors:

• 🔌 Connecting the air conditioner to a guest Wi-Fi network (main network required).
• 📱 Using VPN on your phone (can block access to Xiaomi servers).
• 🔄 Attempt to connect to the air conditioner via the mobile internet (one Wi-Fi network is needed).

If nothing works, check the air conditioner firmware. For 2020 and older models, updates are available to fix connectivity problems. You can update the firmware via Mi Home in Device Settings → Software Update.

FAQ: Frequent questions about managing Xiaomi air conditioner without remote control